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Aki's Fine Foods – Stories Worth Telling

 

 

 

Aki's Fine Foods

Bold, Authentic Flavours with Ontario Roots - 40 Years of Tradition in Every Jar, for Every Table!

Aki’s Fine Foods is a second-generation, certified woman-of-colour-owned family business crafting small-batch condiments with bold, unforgettable flavour. From chutneys to marinades to pickles, every jar is made with the freshest ingredients and rooted in our East African and Indian heritage - delivering the authentic, artisanal taste today’s customers crave.
More than just condiments, Aki’s is a celebration of culture, tradition, and family — a way to bring vibrant flavour to the table without compromising on quality or convenience. Whether you're a new cook or a seasoned foodie, our products make it easy to create delicious meals that feel special, every time.
At a time when shoppers are looking for more - more depth, more story, more authenticity - we deliver bold, globally inspired flavours that stand out on a shelf and at home. Proudly Ontario-made, Aki’s meets the growing demand for premium, small-batch condiments with authenticity at their core.

 

 

Aki's Fine Foods - Fast Facts

Your name: Shenul Williams

 

Year the company was started:  1986

 

Where are the products made? 

Pickering, Ontario

 

What is the ‘key ingredient’ that makes your product line special? 

Our key ingredient is tradition - passed down through generations and poured into every jar.

  

 

 

Exploring the Vision and Core Values of Aki's Fine Foods

LCG Foods engaged in a discussion with the founder of Aki's Fine Foods to better understand the brand's mission, core values, and other topics that we thought our retail partners might want to know.

 

What motivated you to start your company and create the products that we see today? 

Aki’s Fine Foods began nearly 40 years ago with a single jar of our now viral Coriander chutney. My parents, Aki and Daulat, started making condiments in small batches for the local community, drawing from the vibrant flavours of our East African and Indian heritage. Together, they expanded that dream into a thriving family business - and after my father’s passing, I felt deeply called to carry his legacy forward.
What drives us today is the same thing that inspired that first jar: the desire to share flavour that tells a story. We saw a gap in the market for bold, culturally rooted condiments that are easy to use but still rich in quality, flavour, and tradition. Today, our line of chutneys, pickles, and marinades helps customers cook fearlessly - with bold flavour and no compromises.

 

What are your company’s core values?

●    Heritage & Legacy
 Our recipes are rooted in our East African and Indian culture and passed down through generations. Every jar is a tribute to the people and places that raised us.
●    Warmth & Welcoming Flavour
Our food is made the way family cooks for family - with care, bold flavour, and open arms. When you open a jar, you’re welcome at our table.
●    Quality Without Compromise
 We make everything in small batches using fresh ingredients and time-honoured techniques. We believe you can taste the difference when food is made with intention.
●    Family & Community
 We’re more than a business - we’re a family, and our customers are an extension of that. We grow through connection, and we show up for our community.
●    Honouring Individuality
We believe the unique backgrounds, stories, and strengths of everyone on our team make our family - and our flavour - stronger. Every voice matters, and every contribution adds depth to what we create together.

 

If you could tell a retailer three things about what makes your brand different, what would they be? 

●    Canadian & Family-Owned
 Made in Pickering, Ontario by a second-generation, woman-of-colour-owned business.
●    Small Batch
 Handcrafted in small batches using traditional recipes and methods.
●    Fresh, High-Quality Ingredients
 We use only the freshest, top-quality ingredients - no shortcuts, ever.

 

What are some of the challenges that you've overcome to bring your business to its current state?

Running a family business through times of personal loss and transition has been one of our biggest challenges. After my father’s passing, continuing Aki’s became about more than just business — it became a way to honour his legacy and carry our story forward.

We’ve also had to carve out space in a crowded market dominated by mass-produced condiments. Educating new customers about chutneys and culturally rooted flavours has taken time — but it’s also been our greatest joy. When people try our products and feel that sense of comfort or discovery, we know it’s worth it.

 

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Outside of work, I love cooking for friends and family - feeding people brings me so much joy. I also enjoy volunteering in my community whenever I can. Music and dance are a big part of who I am; I love to sing, and you’ll often find me dancing around the kitchen. I run Aki’s with my daughter, Aliza, and when I’m not working, I’m usually spending time with my husband, Steve, or walking our dog, Chewy. And I never say no to a good movie night!

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  Check out all the items from Aki's Fine Foods here!

 

Why LCG Foods?

If you own or manage a health food store, you know it’s hard work to maintain a successful business. From developing customer loyalty, to managing costs, to staying competitive with the big grocery store down the street, we get that you want your suppliers to work as hard as you do.

 

At LCG Foods Distribution, we carefully curate a lean wholesale catalog of only the hottest natural food products, with new product launches every few weeks. Whether your store values organic, non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, or keto, we have the products your customers are looking for, before they know they’re looking for them.

 

We offer straightforward, no-nonsense pricing, and ordering can be done easily online, by email, or over the phone with your account manager. All orders are processed on-demand from our distribution centres in Ontario and British Columbia, with Canada-wide service.

 

Get started today by browsing Aki's Fine Foods products, or take a look at our full catalogue and if you'd like to explore wholesale pricing for your business, simply complete the form below and an LCG Foods representative will get in touch with you within 2-4 hours during the work week.

 

Request Wholesale Pricing - Account Setup